Hames backtracks on Gammy comment
Deputy West Australian Premier Kim Hames says he shouldn't have made the comment that the convicted paedophile father of baby Gammy and his twin sister Pipah appeared to be reformed.
An investigation is continuing into the safety and wellbeing of Pipah, who is living with her biological parents, David and Wendy Farnell, in South Bunbury.
Seven-month-old Gammy remains in Thailand with 21-year-old surrogate Pattaramon Chanbua.
The couple received criticism after an interview with the Nine Network on Sunday in which they insisted Farnell was not a risk of sexually re-offending against children.
Farnell said he was remorseful for his indecent dealing convictions against three girls, and had no urge to re-offend.
WA Health Minister Kim Hames said outside a Cabinet meeting on Monday that he believed Pipah was safe with her parents.
"I was convinced with his remorse over those issues and that he loves his baby daughter, and I think he and his wife will take good care of her," he told reporters.
But Dr Hames backflipped later, telling Fairfax radio that after speaking with Child Protection Minister Helen Morton, he realised his comments were "inappropriate" because there was an investigation underway.
Dr Hames said he did not expect journalists to ask him about the interview, which he only saw a brief part of.
"The department is doing an investigation and needs to do it appropriately," he said.
"I guess I sort of said it from the context of a dad with six kids ... but I don't downplay what he did in the past at all."
Opposition leader Mark McGowan said a senior minister should not pre-empt the outcome of the investigation.
Ms Pattaramon says the couple abandoned Gammy because he has Down syndrome, but the Farnells claim they left with Pipah after the surrogate threatened to take both children from them.
The Farnells admit that since their return to WA, they have only spoken to Australian authorities to ensure their daughter is legally theirs and have not contacted anyone about Gammy's welfare.
They intend to return to Thailand once the issues surrounding their daughter are resolved.
Meanwhile, Ms Pattaramon has claimed to Fairfax Media that the egg came from a Thai woman - not Chinese-born Ms Farnell - and was supplied through a surrogacy agency.
